How to Solve the Education Crisis for Boys and Men | Richard Reeves | TED

Summary

In this insightful talk, Richard Reeves discusses the unintended consequences of Title IX, which, while advancing women's education, has led to a significant gender gap in college degrees favoring women. He highlights the challenges boys face in education due to later brain development and the lack of male teachers. Reeves suggests practical solutions like starting boys in school a year later and recruiting more male teachers. He emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues without undermining progress for girls, advocating for an inclusive future that supports every child.

Takeaways

• 📚 Title IX in 1972 aimed to expand opportunities for women in education, leading to a significant shift in college degree attainment.
• 🔄 Today, there's a larger gender gap in college degrees awarded, but in favor of women, with an 18-percentage-point gap.
• 👨‍🏫 Boys are lagging in education, with two-thirds of top academic performers in high school being girls and two-thirds of the bottom performers being boys.
• 🌍 The gender gap in college education is not just an American issue but is seen in the 20 most economically advanced countries.
• 📈 Historically, boys were ahead in math and science, but now the gap has narrowed, and girls are ahead in reading and language skills.
• 🧠 Boys' brains develop later, affecting skills like planning, organization, and impulse control, which are crucial for academic success.
• 👨‍🏫 The lack of male teachers in schools is a significant issue, with only 23% of K-12 teachers in the US being male.
• 🏫 Schools need to adapt to better support boys, including considering later school starting ages for boys and recruiting more male teachers.
• 💊 Too often, boys' struggles are medicalized with diagnoses of disabilities, rather than addressing systemic issues in education.
• 👨‍👦‍👦 Supporting boys and men doesn't mean reducing support for girls and women; society should aim for inclusive progress.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of Title IX in 1972?

The main purpose of Title IX in 1972 was to expand economic and educational opportunities for women, especially in higher education.

How did Title IX impact the gender gap in college degrees awarded?

Within a decade after Title IX was passed, women caught up with men in the awarding of college degrees and then surpassed them, leading to an 18-percentage-point gap in favor of women today.

What is the current gender gap in college degrees awarded in the US?

Currently, there is an 18-percentage-point gap in the awarding of college degrees in favor of women.

How does the speaker describe the rapid changes in gender inequality?

The speaker describes the rapid changes in gender inequality as disorienting, comparing it to the needles on a compass swinging round, where north is south and south is north.

What is the speaker's view on gender equality?

The speaker views gender equality as not just the advancement of women and girls but also recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by boys and men.

Why does the speaker believe boys are trailing girls in education?

The speaker believes boys are trailing girls in education due to later brain development, which affects non-cognitive skills like planning, organization, and impulse control.

What is the significance of male teachers according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights the significance of male teachers as they can be important role models for children, especially boys, and are more sensitive to the specific challenges boys face in the classroom.

What structural problems does the speaker identify that boys face in the classroom?

The speaker identifies two structural problems: 1) later brain development in boys affecting non-cognitive skills, and 2) the lack of male teachers in the education system.

What solutions does the speaker propose to address the challenges faced by boys in education?

The speaker proposes starting boys in school a year later to level the playing field due to differences in brain development and recruiting more male teachers, especially in subjects like English.

How does the speaker suggest we should treat boys who are struggling in the current education system?

The speaker suggests that we should not inadvertently judge struggling boys against a female standard or blame them for struggling in a system that might not be working well for them.

What message does the speaker have for boys who are struggling right now?

The speaker's message for struggling boys is that it's not just their fault, that they are seen and supported, and that they should not fall for the narrative that their struggles are due to the flourishing of women and girls.